Guns turned in at San Jose gun buyback surpass those received in San Francisco, Oakland combined

By Mark Gomez mgomez@mercurynews.com

Posted:
12/20/2013 07:49:06 AM PST

Updated:
12/20/2013 02:49:43 PM PST

SAN JOSE -- The first gun buyback hosted by San Jose police in more than a decade resulted in the record collection of 463 firearms, exceeding the combined totals collected from the four previous buybacks sponsored by the city, according to a police captain.

The buyback effort on Dec. 14, organized by San Jose police in conjunction with city and county officials, paid out $46,400 in Target gift cards, according to Garrett Radcliffe, an aide to Councilman Xavier Campos, one of the event sponsors.

Previously, the most weapons collected at a gun buyback hosted by San Jose police was about 85, according to Capt. Brian Ferrante. The last city- and police-sponsored gun buyback took place in 2001; Santa Clara County has hosted events more recently.

"It was definitely a success," Ferrante said. "Our goal was to get these unwanted firearms off the streets from people who didn't have a use for them or didn't have a proper way to store them. We wanted to give them an avenue to get rid of them and give them something in return.

"The $100 and $200 goes a long way around Christmas."

People were given $100 gift cards for handguns, rifles and shotguns and $200 gift cards for assault weapons.

Funds were raised through donations from elected officials, asset forfeiture money and an online crowd-funding website. The remaining funds will be used for another gun buyback planned next year, Campos said.

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The gun buyback in San Jose was held in conjunction with buybacks on the same day in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles to coincide with the anniversary of the school shooting that claimed 26 lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

San Jose police collected 192 handguns, 264 rifles and shotguns and seven assault rifles, more than twice as many weapons collected in San Francisco (75 guns) and Oakland (146) combined.

Ferrante previously said the buyback falls in line with Chief Larry Esquivel's push to reduce gang violence, which often coincides with gun violence.

"Our main goal is to take those weapons off the streets that could potentially end up in the hands of criminals and be used in shootings, robberies and homicides, " Ferrante said.

Cars began lining up at 7:15 a.m. so San Jose police who supervised the event opened the doors early at 8:45 a.m. and about 300 guns were turned in within the first two hours.

Ferrante said: "If we can do that annually, I think that would be a good thing."

Bay City News Service contributed to this report. Contact Mark Gomez at 408-920-5869. Follow him on Twitter @MarkMgomez.